Guide de Voyage : Svartagljufur Canyon

Zipline over Svartagljúfur gorge

Svartagljúfur ("the black gorge") is a short, steep-sided canyon cut by the river Hengladalsá just above Hveragerði in South Iceland, at the mouth of the Reykjadalur hot spring valley.

The river falls off the Hellisheiði plateau through the gorge in the waterfall Svartagljúfursfoss, then runs together with the Grændalsá and Reykjadalsá to form the Varmá, the warm river that runs through the town.

In recent years the gorge has become best known as the setting for Mega Zipline Iceland, whose two parallel one-kilometre cables run from the Kambar plateau across Svartagljúfur to a landing beside the Reykjadalur trailhead.

Key Takeaways About Svartagljúfur

• Gorge where the Hengladalsá drops off the Hellisheiði plateau in the waterfall Svartagljúfursfoss, before becoming the Varmá
• Mega Zipline Iceland runs two parallel 1 km lines across it from the Kambar edge to the Reykjadalur car park
• Zipline rides: seated "Free as a Bird" and head-first "Fast as a Falcon" (up to about 120 km/h)
• Reached on the paved Reykjadalur road, about 4 km from the Hveragerði roundabout, 45 minutes from Reykjavík
• The gorge can be viewed from the car park; do not climb into it or approach the edge above the falls

Why visit Svartagljúfur

The gorge is the doorway to Reykjadalur. Steaming vents and hot springs dot the slopes on either side, the cliffs are dark rock streaked with rust from geothermal alteration, and in summer the gorge bottom is green with moss.

Below it, the Hengladalsá and Grændalsá run out into a broad, grassy bowl where the Reykjadalur car park and The Lodge café sit; above it, the hiking trail climbs into the valley and its bathable hot river.

The zipline is what brings most people. Mega Zipline runs two parallel lines, each about one kilometre long at an average slope of 10 degrees, so pairs can fly together.

The "Free as a Bird" ride is seated and partly speed-controlled; the head-first "Fast as a Falcon" ride has reached speeds of around 120 km/h. From the cable you look straight down into Svartagljúfur and out over Hveragerði to the Ölfus plain and the sea.

Riders are driven from the reception to the top of the gorge and then walk about 600 metres and 70 metres uphill (10 to 15 minutes) to the launch tower on the Kambar edge, before flying back down to the valley floor.

If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, the area still rewards a short walk.

From the Reykjadalur car park you can see the gorge mouth and the lower falls, watch the ziplines pass overhead, and follow the river banks where hot and cold streams mix.

The slopes here mark the southern edge of the Hengill volcanic system, one of the most active geothermal areas in Iceland.

How to get to Svartagljúfur

Hveragerði is about 47 kilometres east of Reykjavík on Route 1 (the Ring Road), 40 to 45 minutes' drive over Hellisheiði and down the Kambar hill.

Take the exit toward the town centre (north) at the Hveragerði roundabout and follow Breiðamörk, the main street, straight through town and uphill for about 4 kilometres on the Reykjadalur road to the car park at the end.

The gorge is just west of the car park; the zipline reception is at The Lodge café beside the car park (Árhólmar 1, 810 Hveragerði). You can also walk or cycle from the town centre; the walk takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

Zipline landing below Svartagljúfur

The Reykjadalur car park fills early on fine summer weekends, and a parking fee has applied there in recent seasons; check current rules on arrival. No 4x4 is needed. Selfoss is about 12 kilometres east of Hveragerði on Route 1.

Best time to visit

Mega Zipline operates daily from 1 April to 25 October, weather permitting; book ahead and check the operator for current hours. June to August gives the longest days, green slopes and the warmest weather for the walk to the tower.

May and September are quieter. In winter the gorge can be rimmed with ice and snow and the Reykjadalur road can be icy; the zipline is closed from late October until April.

River below Svartagljúfur gorge. Photo: Reykholt, CC BY-SA 4.0

Safety and practical tips

• The zipline has a minimum age of 9 years and a weight range of 30 to 120 kg (the minimum may be raised in strong wind); check these when booking. Rides are cancelled or rescheduled in bad weather.
• Wear closed shoes and warm, windproof layers even in summer; the launch tower on Kambar is exposed, and the flight is cold at speed. Secure glasses and phones.
• The gorge cliffs are unstable and the river below is fast and cold. Do not climb down into Svartagljúfur or approach the edge above the falls; do not expect barriers.
• The ground around hot springs can be thin and the water scalding. Stay on paths.
• Toilets, food and coffee are at The Lodge by the car park; more services are in Hveragerði 4 kilometres away.
• A parking fee has applied at the Reykjadalur car park in recent seasons; the gorge itself is free to look at.